Local organization holding seminar to help new drone owners

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- If you got a drone over the holidays, you've got about eight hours to register it online before having to pay. If you register before midnight, the FAA will waive the five dollar fee for drone operators meeting a new proposed regulation.

It's probably the most popular toy in the sky and in the hands of kids and adults drones are now roving the air full speed worldwide. But pretty soon any of these smooth gliding gadgets less than a pound could require identification before it lifts off the ground.

Doug Betts with the Bill Smillie Aviation Center said anyone owning a drone over .55 pounds or eight ounces will have to register the flying device with the FAA. "The threat in not doing it is if your drone flies off somewhere, and you lose control of it, and it's downed somewhere now you're subject to fines," said Betts.

Fines that could cost an operator thousands of dollars.

Betts explains the reason the government came up with the proposal. People were flying drones and interfering with emergency responder vehicles with aircraft emergency helicopters getting in the way of their services.

Registering your drone is simple-- just go to FAA.gov type your name, email, and address. You'll have to pay five dollars but aviation officials said it's a small price that will help keep everyone safe. "If you intend to take it onto local streets or highways, you are expected to register and operate it safely to protect the public," said Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation.

For those new users with little droning experience, Betts is hosting a seminar Friday at Sierra Sky Park at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the rules for flying and landing.